Articles

Opinions Dec. 31, 2020

Indiana Court of Appeals
Tax Analysts, et al. v. Indiana Economic Development Corporation
20A-PL-1141
Civil plenary. Affirms the Marion Superior Court order denying Tax Analysts’ request under the Access to Public Records Act for records of the city of Indianapolis’ response to requests for proposals related to the relocation of Amazon’s future second headquarters. Finds the trial court did not err in ruling that the records sought were exempt from disclosure because they were created during negotiations and did not include terms of a final offer of public financial resources.

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Indianapolis’ Amazon offer can remain secret, COA affirms

Indianapolis’ offer of taxpayer money and financial incentives in an unsuccessful attempt to lure a coveted second Amazon headquarters can remain secret, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled, rejecting an appeal by a tax trade publication that argued the offer must be disclosed as a public record.

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Opinions Dec. 30, 2020

The following 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion was posted after IL deadline on Tuesday:

USA v. Eduardo Ramirez
20-1006
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division. Judge Damon R. Leichty.
Criminal. Affirms Eduardo Ramirez’s 72-month prison sentence for pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon. Finds that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana appropriately handled his “aging out” argument as no data supported it. Finds that the district court reasonably justified its above-guidelines sentence and that it is substantively reasonable.

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Opinions Dec. 29, 2020

The following 7th Circuit Court of Appeals opinion was posted after IL deadline Monday.
USA v. Hector S. Castro-Aguirre
19-1074
Appeals from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
Criminal. Affirms the various drug and conspiracy convictions and sentences of Hector Saul Castro-Aguirre, John Ramirez-Prado, and Rafael Rojas-Reyes. However, vacates Jose Manuel Carrillo-Tremillo’s conviction and sentence for conspiracy to launder money upon finding no evidence that would permit a rational trier of fact to connect Carrillo-Tremillo to a conspiracy to launder money. Remands his case for resentencing.

 

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Opinions Dec. 28, 2020

Indiana Court of Appeals
Paula Henderson v. New Wineskin Ministries Corporation
20A-CT-1317
Civil tort. Affirms the Marion Superior Court’s grant of summary judgment to New Wineskin Ministries Corporation on Paula Henderson’s negligence complaint after she slipped and fell in the church parking lot. Finds “premises” as used in Indiana Code Section 34-31-7-2 includes parking lots and the undisputed evidence shows the danger that caused Henderson’s injury was not hidden. Thus, the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment to New Wineskin.

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Opinions Dec. 23, 2020

The following Supreme Court opinion was posted after IL deadline on Tuesday.
Brian J. Allen v. State of Indiana
20S-XP-506
Expungement. Reverses the Dearborn Superior Court’s order denying Brian Allen’s petition for expungement and remands with instructions for the court to reconsider its decision consistent with the Supreme Court’s opinion. Finds Allen was eligible for an expungement and that the trial court didn’t indicate why it denied Allen’s petition for expungement. 

 

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Opinions Dec. 22, 2020

Indiana Court of Appeals
Michael Wisdom v. State of Indiana
20A-CR-931
Criminal. Affirms Michael Wisdom’s 16-year sentence for his conviction of Level 4 possession of a schedule II narcotic drug and a gang-related sentencing enhancement. Finds Wisdom was not twice prosecuted for the same offense in violation of the Indiana Constitution. Also finds the Vanderburgh Circuit Court did not abuse its discretion by admitting into evidence posts from Facebook and Instagram.

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